Mitch Marsh and Jhye Richardson will return for the Perth Scorchers on Tuesday night while Finn Allen is set to take the gloves with Matthew Hurst dumped from their squad.
TEAM NEWS
The Scorchers on Monday afternoon announced their 14-player squad to play the Melbourne Renegades in Perth, with Mitch Marsh and Jhye Richardson’s inclusions confirmed after being part of Australia’s Test squad.
Bryce Jackson drops out, along with English wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Hurst, creating a void behind the stumps.
The Scorchers update said: “Wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Hurst has been omitted, with New Zealand international Finn Allen among the options to take the gloves.”
Aaron Hardie (abdomen awareness) and Ashton Agar (back) have both been named in the squad too. The Scorchers update said: “Spin-bowler Ashton Agar has progressed in his recovery from back spasms and remains in the 14-player squad.”
Ins: Marsh, Richardson / Outs: Hurst, Jackson
Scorchers squad: Turner (c), Agar, Allen, Behrendorff, Connolly, Fanning, Hardie, Hobson, Kelly, Marsh, Morris, Richardson, Spoors, Tye
The Renegades confirmed two changes, with Kane Richardson back in the 14-player squad following soreness. Top-order batsman Marcus Harris is also added, with Mackenzie Harvey and Callum Stow dropping out.
Ins: Richardson, Harris / Outs: Stow, Harvey
Renegades squad: Sutherland (c), Bethell, Brown, Crone, Evans, Fraser-McGurk, Harris, O’Neill, Richardson, Rogers, Sandhu, Seifert, Wells, Zampa
UPDATES
The influx of Test players into the BBL will take close monitoring, with some likely to return this week and others to need a bit more time off prior to the Sri Lanka Test series with that squad to assemble for a Dubai camp around January 18-19.
Travis Head looks set to opt against playing for the Adelaide Strikers to spend time with his two-month-old child. Head told Fox Cricket on Sunday: “I’m wrecked. I don’t know what I’m going to do in the next few days but we’ve got 10 or 12 days off now before we go to Sri Lanka and I’m going to use every little bit of that.”
Teammate Alex Carey, however, is likely to line up for the Strikers on Saturday against the Brisbane Heat. It’s expected the Heat will welcome in Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne for that game, creating a selection squeeze.
Stars all-rounder Beau Webster should be available for the Melbourne Stars on Thursday against the Sydney Sixers who’ll regain Sean Abbott. It’s unclear if Steve Smith will play on Thursday or wait to their next game on Saturday against the Scorchers.
Scott Boland is expected to be rested from the Melbourne Stars’ upcoming games due to his recent bowling workload.
Renegades spinner Nathan Lyon won’t play in Perth on Tuesday but looks set to be included for Sunday’s Melbourne Derby.
